Introduction+-+'The+Renaissance'

The Renaissance.....

A time of rebirth - renewed interest in art, architecture, literature and science. These areas of learning had not been 'thought' of as being of importance! The name 'Renaissance' comes from the French word 'renaissance' which means 'reborn'

The Renaissance started in Italy around 1400 and lasted until 1600.

Began in the cities of northern Italy and then spread across Europe. Florence was the base for anything of a Renaissance nature - (new ideas, new thinking). Industries in Florence were prominent and therefore this city became a wealthy centre for trade. Merchant flocked to Florence, it was also an attractive place to be in terms 'new' literature, architecture, painting, sculpture, music, philosophy, medicine and science.

People of the Renaissance Period.....

People of the 'Renaissance Period' were keen to learn more about their 'world'. This was such a 'shift' in thinking, because during the Middle Ages it was thought and believed that God was directly involved in everything. During the Renaissance people started to think differently. They believed that humans should be proud of their 'achievements' and be inspired about all that is around them. This 'new way' of thinking was called 'humanism'. There was a revival of knowledge from the ancient Greeks and Romans. Renaissance artists, achitects and sculpters copied and based their ideas on the 'ancient Greeks and Romans'.